I-beam clamp



W. G. WEHR I BEAM CLAMP Feb. 14, 1928.

Filed March 11, 1927 M WM 7% Patented Feb. 14, 1928.

UNITED --s T 'E' S o eF c E. 1

WILLIAM .Gr. WEHR, 10F (EAST iGLEVELANDfQI-HO, ASSIGNOR TO ."ILHE CLEVELAND CRANE AND ENGINEERING COMPANY, 01?- 'WICKIHIFEE, I-IIO,A OORPORATIONOF i :OHIO.

, -.App1ication filedsMareh "This invention relates to "flanged beam clamps for use generally for suspensionfrom I-beams and which isparticularly useful'for attaching flexible hangers for suspending tracks for overhead carriers, the invention liaving tor its object to provide a clamp "for hangers which when secured to-the flanges of the beam is eiiectually' held againstcreeping movement along the said flanges.

Suspended monorail'and othertracks for overhead carriers are usually ,supported from theibeam'sdfthe building in which the track system is placedby means of flexible hangers. Sincethere is considerable swaying of the hangers during the passage of carriers alongth'e tracks there'is a tendency for the hanger supports to creep along the beams to which they are attached. The creeping can be ;prevented loy bolti-ng the hanger supports to the 'beamsbut this Qmethod of attachment is objectionable by reason otthe labor incident to the installation of ithe overhead, by reason S of the fact that 'theibolt holes weaken thekbeams and,

by reason of=the fdi'fliculty incidental to shifting'the position o'ffthe overhead 'trackway yas is freq-uentlv .desirable invpractice. For "this reason it employ clamps in securing hangersto'the beams but where clamps have been employed there has been considerable difficulty. due to [the creeping o'fthe'clamps alongthe flanges 'otthe beams, making it 'necessaryto ffre guently readjust the clamps'to maintainthe suspended track in proper alignment. -.It-is the object of the present invention to provide a clamp whichwill so engage ithe flanges of thebeam as to e'iiectuallyresist the .forces tending to \move" the samealong 40 the beam andwhichwilltorm a rigid anchor for the vflexible track hanger. a

A further obect is 'to provide a clamp which maybe attached tot'fiangedbeams of various sizes; a

WViththe above and -I.-IBEAM 0mm. 7

other objects vie a a v 1* m 11, 1927, iSerialNo.,174,609.

Reference shoiild be j had to the accompanylng "drawings forming a part of this "specification in which: F g. 1 "s a transv rse isectionfthrough a beam showing a clampattache'd to the beam side elevation. v I i "Figli'2 isiaviewi SimiIar'to'Fig'. 1 showing I the: same clamp attached "to a' smaller I-beam. v a s Fig. 3' isan end elevation of the clamp. "Fig; 4 is a section taken on the linel indicatedat-'44 in Fig. 2. i i

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 3 the clamp includes a channel-shapedhanger *ba-ril which hasparallel sidefianges' Q which have straight edges adapted to engage the bottom of the beam WhlChiS hBIG shown as an'I-beam. The hanger bar "lfhas wedgeshaped ends gradually; increasing in Jfdepth toward the center of the bar, being provided with transversely rounded; inwardly inclined bottom port-ions?) andretat the opposite ends. "At the CenterQof chef-barthere is ia depre'ssed seat 5 iwhi hfhas a central opening, 6 and ethis seat is adapted? to support the rounded head 17 of a hanger bolt s;;whi'c1 extends through the openi'ng'fi which is of somewhat has been common practice to Flarg'er diameter thanthe bolt to permit the boltto swingiin anydirectiom Thehanger which maybe'attached tothe bolt 'inx-any suitable'manner, x [J The hanger bar'lr isof uniform width: from end to end and the inclined bot-tom portions 3 and lt-hereof are of uniformf transverse cu'rvatureirand' the "bar 1 is adapted to be, secured against=the 'bottom of an "I-beam ybvmea'ns ofclips' 9 which are U-shaped and i formedtofit the exterior ofthe bar 1, the clips Q'having inclined bottom portions v 'llzfitting' the inclined bottom portions 3 and A o'fthe" bar and having upwardly extending sides 12' whichioverliethe fiangesQQ iofthe bar f-Ati their upper ends the, sides 1'2:of (the' clipshave 'inwardly extending integral vprothei'inventionmaybe saidto (comprise a de-f jections; or lugsfl3 which 'are provided with vice as illustratedfi in the accompanying drawings hereinafter "described and particu larly set forth in "the appended claims I to- 50' gether with such variations and modifica- "tions as i'willibeapparent to one'sk'il-led in the art to which theain'vention appertainsi inclined lower edges 14 which Kare adapted "'tofit and ri'deupon the top surfaces of the op- ,p posite ly extendinglower fiangesiofan Ibeam.

"Each of the clipsf ha's a1U:shaped attachment15npon theiinteriortherdf and each of these attachments has vertical sides 16 which bear against the sides 12 of the clip and each of the sides 16 is provided with an outwardly extending lug 17 which extends through a notch 18 in-the adjacent side 12 of the clip,

the notches 18 bein in the flange engaging edge lt of the clip and of the same depth as of the flanges 17 so that the flanges 17 are clamped against the top surfaces of the I-' beam flanges when the clamp is secured to the I-bearn. Each of the attachments 15 is provided with a downwardly projecting loop 19 which extends into the channel at the hanger bar 1, and these loops are adapted to receive a bolt 20 which extends longitudinally of the bar 1 in-the channel thereof. The bolt 20 is provided at one end with a head'QI which engages, one or the loops 19 When the clamp is applied to an I-beam the projections 13 of the clips are placed in engagement with the flanges and the bolt 20 is rotated to draw the clips toward each other. During the inward movement of the clips the edges 14 engaging the upper surfaces of the beam flanges tend to draw the clips and the hanger bar supported by the clips upwardly toward the beam. At the same time the inclinedport-ions 11 of the clips sliding on the inclined wedge portions 3 and 4: of the hanger bar crowd the hanger bar upwardly toward the beam. When the clips are tightened the oppositely extending flanges of the I-beam are very tightly clamped between the projecting lugs of the clips and the upper edge of the hanger bar 'byr'eason of the wedging action between the clips and the inclined top surfaces-of the I- beam flanges and by reason of the wedging actionbetween the bottom portions 11 of the clip and the inclined bottom portions 3 of the hanger bar so that a heavy gripping pressure is exertedupon the I-beam flanges and the clamp is securely anchored against creeping movement along the I-beam. By reason of the fact that the flange engaging portions of the clips are gradually moved toward the upper edge of the hanger bar as the clips are moved toward each other, the

same clamp may be applied to I-beams of widely different sizes. In Fig. 1 the clamp "is shown applied to an I-beam of comparawhat I claim is:

tive'ly large size, and in Fig. 2 the same clamp is shown applied to an I-beam of much smaller size. i

Having thus described my invention, 1. A clamp for flanged beams comprising a pair of clips having oppositely inclined with the upper faces of oppositeflanges oi the beam, and means independent of said bar tor drawing said clips together,

A'clamp for flanged beams comprising a hanger bar having an upper edge engageable with the bottom of a beam and outwardly tapering wedge-shaped ends, a pair of clips slidable on said bar, each clip having outwardly converging faces, one engagcable with the top of the beam flange and the other with a tapering end of said hanger bar, and means fordrawing said clips toward each other to clamp said hanger bar against the bottom of the beam. I

4. A clamp for flanged beams comprising a hanger bar having an upper edge engageable with the bottom of a beam and outwardly tapering wedge-shaped ends, a pair of clips siidable on said bar, each clip having outwardly converging faces, one engageable with the top of the beam flange and the other with a tapering end ofsaid hanger bar, and a bolt connecting said clips by which the clips may be drawn toward each other to clamp the hanger bar against the bottom of the beam and to grip the flanges (it the clips. a Y

5. A clamp for flanged beams comprising a hanger bar adapted toengage the bottom of a beam, a pair of clips slidably mounted on said bar and 'engageable with the top surtacesof the flanges oi thebeam, and means f r simultaneously moving said clips toward each other and downwardly with respect to the hanger bar to grip each flange of the beam between said hanger bar and a clip.

6. A clamp for flanged beams comprising a hanger bar adapted to engage the base of a beam. a pair of clips adapted to engage the top surfaces of the flanges of the beam and mounted on said bar for movementlongitudinally thereof, said clips and bar having coacting guide portions which cause movement of the clips transversely of the bar upon, longitudinal movement thereof, and means connectingsaid clips for simultaneouslyimoving them toward each other and transversely with respect to the bar to grip the flanges of the beam between the clips and bar. I i

7. A clainp ior flanged beams comprising beam between the hanger bar and a channel-shaped hanger bar having straight edges at its open side adapted to engage the bottom of a beam, clips slidabl upon opposite end portions of said bar, said clips havingv portions engageable With the top surfaces of opposite flanges of the beam and portions embracing said hanger bar, said clips also having portions projecting into the channel of said hanger bar, and a boltconnecting said projecting portions of the clips.

8. A clamp for flanged beams comprising a channel-shapedhanger bar having straight I edges at its open side adapted to engage-the bottom of a beam, said bar having Wedgeshaped ends increasing in depth-toward the center of the bar, Usshaped clips slidable upon the opposit ends of the hanger bar, said clips having bottom portions inclined to confornito the inclined bottom portions of the hanger bar and having inwardly projeoting lugs at their upper ends engageable with the top surfaces of the beam flanges,

the top surfaces of the beam flanges and portions in Wedging engagement With'the under side of said hanger bar, and means for drawing said cl ps together to grip 'the flanges of the beam between the flange en-' gaging portions of the'clips and the hanger bar.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature. v i WILLIAM G. W'EHR.

each clip having a portion extending into j 

